John Devine: 49ers sign North Salinas alum Kassim Osgood

He didn't take the conventional path to the National Football League. Despite catching more than 100 passes in his only season at San Diego State, Kassim Osgood went undrafted, passed over seven times by 32 NFL teams in 2002.

Yet, 11 years later the North Salinas High graduate is still in the NFL — and regarded as one of the premier special teams players in the league.

The 49ers signing of Osgood, a three-time special teams Pro Bowler to a one-year contract Tuesday, indicates the importance head coach Jim Harbaugh has put on special teams.

Osgood was not signed to try and make the 49ers squad. He was signed to enhance a part of their game, perhaps the final piece to a Super Bowl puzzle for a unit that wasn't very special last year.

Understanding the importance of his role as a special teams demon has earned him a well-deserved reputation as a player that makes special team units better — period.

Osgood, who spent last fall in Detroit, where he recovered a fumble against the 49ers in Week 2 on special teams, has always believed he was an NFL receiver that just happens to play special teams.

His 17-yard average on 44 career catches backs that up. His 6-foot-5 frame and 4.5 second 40-meter speed certainly makes him a viable target.

Yet, Osgood's value as a special teams player has kept him off the field as a receiver for most of his career. That's how important the Chargers and Jaguars felt about him for a decade.

In fact, Osgood, who was at the 49ers organized team activities on Tuesday, has more tackles than receptions during his 151-game career.

Usually that kind of importance on a special teams player is placed on someone that returns kicks or punts. Osgood does neither.

Instead, Osgood is the player flying down the sidelines on kickoffs, avoiding two defenders on the outside on punt returns and getting in on tackles. Last year he was in on 65 percent of Detroit's special teams plays.

How important has that position become?

When you think of the 49ers Super Bowl loss last season, the first thing that comes to mind is a 108-yard kickoff return by Baltimore to open the second half.

Obviously, the 49ers feel they're a Super-Bowl caliber team. What a luxury to be able to go out and sign arguably one of the best special team players in the NFL over the last decade.

One that's proved to be durable. Osgood has missed just seven games in 10 years.

Osgood could provide insurance for a depleted receiving core, although I'm not sure that is what the 49ers want from him.

He didn't catch a pass last year at Detroit and had just five receptions the year before in Jacksonville. Of his 44 career receptions, 28 came in his first two seasons.

Few players have had the willingness to make a career out of being a special teams standout. Let's face it. It's a sacrifice.

You don't normally look at receivers as special teams tackling standouts. Terry Greer provided that during the 49ers Super Bowl days in 1988-89.

Osgood wasn't always a receiver in college. When he left North Salinas, where he excelled in football, basketball and track and field, he went to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo as a defensive back.

Clearly those skills have benefitted him when making tackles. Osgood isn't a vicious tackler. He just makes sound fundamental tackles.

Had Osgood tested the free agent waters earlier in his career, he might have landed a job as a receiver. I think that was his hope when he bolted the Chargers for Jacksonville after seven years.

In some ways, an argument can be made that Osgood has changed how the position is viewed. How many players can make a million dollars being on the field for 10 to 15 plays a game that aren't kickers?

Could this be Osgood's last season?

There are not a lot of 33-year-old players signed just to play special teams.

That tells you the importance of this season in San Francisco — the final year at Candlestick Park.

This is a team that has taken a step forward in each of Harbaugh's first two seasons. Addressing the special teams was a priority.

I wish it had come a year sooner.

At this stage of his career, all that is missing on Osgood's résumé is a ring.